Chapter one:

Jane POV:

"Please Jane, don't stop running" the worry seeping into his usually calm tone, my brother pulled me by my hand, urging me to carry on.

We'd been running for what felt like months but in actual fact had only been a few hours. As the light grew weaker and weaker and the night drew in, each step was that much harder as the ground was gradually disappearing.

Every time I caught my foot on the twigs and bracken interlaced across the cold hard ground and fell I just wanted to lie there and never get up again. If it was just me I'd have given in long ago. Laid on the ground and waited to be found. But it wasn't just me. It was Alec too, and for him I had to carry on.

In the village we'd come from, multiple births weren't common and for both babies to survive was even less common. From the second we entered this world, we were suspected of evil. And when our curses I suppose you could call them began to manifest them selves, things got a lot worse. Our mother had died bringing us into the world and our father despised us for it. We were beaten and over worked. But no one ever intervened, we were the witch twins and we deserved everything that was coming to us.

From being small we knew we were different. We could do things that the other children couldn't. I could cause pain by just looking at someone. It took so much energy and effort that I couldn't make it last more than a few seconds but it was usually enough to get away. Because of the daily persecution we faced, my "talent" was put to use far too often. Maybe I was evil. I can't say I didn't enjoy the pain I inflicted. A good person wouldn't do terrible things, even if they were justified. Maybe I did deserve burning at the stake. But not Alec. Never Alec.

He took away all the pain I caused. With just a look he could numb any pain, however strong. He numbed himself and me from the regular beatings. It took all his energy to numb me as well as himself. It left him weak for days. But he still did it. He was good and he didn't deserve this. So even if I had to run until my feet were red raw and bleeding I would, because if I stopped he'd never leave me. He'd suffer for me and I could never allow that.

"Alec I can still hear them", I whispered terrified.

"We've been running for so long but they just keep gaining on us", the fear was evident in his voice too.

"There's no chance of out running them, we've got to hide, it's the only chance we've got".

With all the energy we had we searched for some where to hide from the encroaching mob. The rough forest ground scrapped my hands and knees, drawing blood as I frantically crawled along the ground, looking for a bush big enough to climb inside. The lack of light made me slow and clumsy and I began to think searching was useless.

"Sister, over hear. Quickly", Alec's voice was like a whisper and a shout combined, filled with worry and urgency.

I quickly scrambled to my feet and followed the only voice in the world that mattered to me. I ran as fast as I could in the direction I was sure I heard the voice, praying to god that I was right. Slowly I began to see the outline of his shape. Even in the darkness Alec's beauty was astounding. He was tall, lean yet muscular with the most flawless pale skin. It contrasted brilliantly with his thick caramel hair, swept clumsily across his face and big, soulful brown eyes. I know were identical twins but Alec was much more perfect than me, inside and out.

He held out his hand to me and I took it grasping tightly. He pulled me to the ground and into the partially covered hollow of a long dead tree. It was dark and cramped but it was the only chance we had. We sat on the cold, damp ground, hands clutching each other, listening for the sounds of the mob. As the minutes passed by and still all we heard was silence, hope swelled through me.

It was a freezing night and the wind pierced right through your skin and into your bones, freezing you inside and out. My dress was filthy and ripped from the many falls I had taken and was providing little protection from the cold. I tried to suppress a shiver and failed.

Alec wrapped his strong arms around me pulling me close to him and I instantly felt warmer. Although he was as cold as I, somehow he managed to fight of the cold a little. He placed a gentle kiss on the top of my head before whispering calming words into my ear.

"Don't worry Janie, I'm here. Everything's alright. I'll never let anyone hurt you, I promise".

"I love you Alec", my voice wavered as I said this, knowing it might be the last time

"As I love you too", he replied, his voice oozing love and care.

"Do you think it will hurt a lot when we burn?" I said quietly.

"Well I've been on the receiving end of one of your temper tantrums and I'm telling you it can't hurt anymore than that", he smiled, although it didn't reach his eyes. It was so like Alec to try and ease my worry, to try and lighten the mood.

I snuggled in closer to him and let out an involuntary yawn.

"Your tired sister, rest. I'll keep look out" he urged.

"No, No I'm fine. I'm wide awake", I lied, not wanting to leave him alone.

"Shhh" he soothed, rocking me gently in his arms.

He began to sing in a low and gentle voice. It was a familiar song, one he'd sung to me every night for as long as I can remember. His beautiful voice in my ear was too much to fight against and I felt my eye lids begin to droop. I let sleep take me,

Alec POV:

I looked down at the peaceful expression on my sister dreaming face. I too was exhausted but I knew I had to keep watch for the lynch mob. But I could say I mined. Seeing that look on her face made staying awake worth it, she deserved every moment of peace.

In the dark I could only make out the outline of her features, but she was still angelic. He pale complexion contrasted perfectly with the rich honey shades of her hair. Her full cupid bow lips formed a natural pout and her huge, round eyes were almost hypnotic. She was much smaller than me, only coming up to my shoulder and her body was slim with small understated curves. I know I was biased as she was my twin, but Jane was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Her dress was ripped beyond repair and judging by the amount of dirt on both the dress and her face and body, she had taken more falls than she had let on. Her beautiful hair was tangled with twigs and leaves which I slowly and gently began to pick out. You'd think all this would be a detriment to her beauty but it only made her more endearing.

Even though she was fast asleep she was shivering. Ever so slowly as not to wake her, I remover the shirt I was wearing and draped it around her delicate frame. She snuggled into the material unconsciously and her shivering seemed to lessen, even if it didn't stop completely. Although the shirt was only thin it, had been shielding some of the icy winds that blew around the small hollow in which we sheltered. The cold was painful as it whipped my body over and over again. If Jane had been awake she'd have never let me give her the shirt, but I'd take this hyperborean wind if it meant she was only a fraction warmer.

In sleep, Jane looked much more like the kind, caring, loving girl I knew her to be. Fate had been cruel to us and forced us to become tougher and harsher in order to survive. And to the outside world Jane had lost all humanity trying to stop the world from hurting her. But I know there's still a side to her that's pure and innocent and lovely. A side she saves just for me.

As the light drew in, I'd almost forgotten why we were hiding at all. And then I heard them.


AN: This is my first fanfic so please review and tell me how I've done. I'll update as soon as xx